Select Tools»Compare»Compare VIs from the menu on the front panel or block diagram of a VI to display the Compare VIs dialog box. After you select the two VIs you want to compare, click Compare to display the Differences dialog box.

Use this dialog box to display the results of the VI comparison.

This dialog box includes the following components:

Option Description
Differences

Displays a list of the differences LabVIEW found between the two VIs you compared.

  • Show Difference—

    Highlights the difference you select. After you click the Show Difference button, LabVIEW puts a checkmark next to that difference in the Differences list.
Details

Displays a more detailed explanation of the highlighted difference.

  • Show Detail—

    Highlights the detail you select. After you click the Show Detail button, LabVIEW puts a checkmark next to that detail in the Details list.
Copy Left Image

Copy an image of the left difference to the clipboard.
Copy Right Image

Copy an image of the right difference to the clipboard.
Update

Regenerates a comparison that includes the most current version of the VI. Click Update if you change one of the compared VIs after you perform the comparison.
More commands

Contains options to show VIs side-by-side vertically or horizontally, swap VI positions, highlight the selected differences when you view the difference, create a report that summarizes the differences between the VIs, or clear checkmarks.
Include

Indicates the attributes you want to show in the comparison.

  • VI Attributes—

    Compares attributes of the two VIs. The attributes correspond to settings in the VI Properties dialog box.

  • Front Panel—

    Compares objects on the front panel. LabVIEW does not compare position and size unless you enable the Position/size checkbox.

    • Position/Size—

      Compares the position and size of the objects on the front panel.

  • Block Diagram—

    Compares the functional differences on the block diagrams. LabVIEW does not compare the appearance unless you enable the Cosmetic checkbox.

    • Cosmetic—

      Compares changes on the block diagrams that do not affect the execution of the VI, such as color changes, visible subdiagrams in structures, the display format of constants, or changes in the position and size objects.

History

  • LabVIEW 2024 Q3: Added Swap VI Positions command in More commands.
  • LabVIEW 2025 Q1: Added Copy Left Image and Copy Right Image buttons.